Carlton’s Caretaker Coach Remains Focused on the Present
Carlton’s caretaker coach, Josh Fraser, has remained steadfast in his decision not to pursue the head coaching role for the next season. Despite securing two wins from two games, Fraser has consistently maintained that he is not interested in taking on the full-time position.
“No, no. I’ll be pretty consistent with my answer in that regard,” Fraser said after Carlton’s 34-point victory over Port Adelaide on Saturday night. “I’m learning a lot. I’m determined at the end of this opportunity to be better placed than what I am now.”
Fraser, who took over as head coach following Michael Voss’s departure, emphasized the importance of winning, describing it as “fun” and a form of affirmation for the hard work being done by the team.
“Winning is important. It gives you that affirmation, I suppose, of the work you’re putting in,” he said. “But for me, I’m just so pleased at how connected the group are … they look connected, they look happy. And I think we’ve been heading that way for a little while.”
The dominant performance against Port Adelaide was largely driven by captain Patrick Cripps, who delivered a masterful display with 31 disposals, eight clearances, and a goal. Fraser praised Cripps’ efforts both on and off the field, highlighting the support the team is providing him.
“I’d like to think we’re supporting him as a group more,” Fraser said. “And maybe Crippa doesn’t feel like he has to carry the burden of everything and everyone and every problem on the field. We’re trying to set him up to be really good at what he’s good at, so his contest work being elite, his leadership on-field has been fantastic, he’s making others around him better.”
Fraser also acknowledged the significant impact Cripps has had off the field, noting the value of their conversations about the team’s direction and future improvements.
“I really value the conversations we’ve had around where we’re trying to go, how we’re going to get better,” he said. “He’s driving that incredibly hard, along with other leaders, but he’s clearly at the front, leading the charge there. He has been important for us the last couple of weeks and it’s important we acknowledge that he’s making others around him better.”
Looking Ahead to the Next Match
With the team in strong form, Fraser is looking forward to the upcoming clash against flag contenders Geelong at the MCG on Friday night. He expressed hope that key players Jacob Weitering (calf) and Zac Williams, who was rested during the trip to Adelaide, will be available for the match.
- The team is focused on maintaining their momentum and building on the positive results.
- Fraser is confident in the squad’s ability to perform under pressure.
- The support system around key players like Cripps is playing a crucial role in the team’s development.
